Approximately 2.5 billion kilograms of adipic acid are produced annually. This organic compound is used in the production of nylon, polyurethane, adhesives and plasticizers.

Adipic acid is a white crystalline powder. Some common other names for adipic acid include: Acifloctin; Acinetten; Adilatetten; Adipinic Acid; 1,4-Butanedicarboxylic Acid; 1,6-Hexanedioic Acid. It is used in numerous manufacturing processes and when in dust form can be hazardous in several manners.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lists adipic acid dusts as a combustible dust hazard. It can be explosive in the presence of open flames, sparks or heat.

It is important that in manufacturing processes that create adipic acid dusts that proper ventilation and engineering controls are in place to prevent airborne levels from accumulating into an explosion risk.

“Adipic acid is also a skin and eye irritant and a hazard if ingested or inhaled in sufficient quantities,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc., a leading combustible dust and industrial hygiene testing laboratory. “Whenever a combustible dust, such as adipic acid, is processed and handled there is the potential for an explosion and fire. The extent of any adipic acid dust hazards can be determined by combustible dust testing services offered by EMSL Analytical. EMSL can also provide occupational exposure testing services to help ensure workers are not being exposed to high levels of this chemical in the air.”

EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Related news

Today, the IAQ Video Network and Cochrane & Associates announced the release of their latest educational video. Their newest production discusses homebuyers, lead disclosures and the millions of homes built before 1978 that could contain lead-based paints.
“Exposure to lead-based paints, chips and dust can be a serious hazard, especially for young children,” said Paul Cochrane, President of Cochrane and Associates and the IAQ Video Network. “Due to lead poisoning health concerns, federal...

UL EHS Sustainability has been named a market leader in the latest Green Quadrant report by independent research firm Verdantix. The ranking places UL among the most elite EHS and sustainability software firms in the world. The report can be read or downloaded at www.ulehssustainability.com/verdantix.
UL’s PURE platform, an integrated EHS and sustainability platform composed of six core modules, was lauded specifically for its capabilities in sustainability and GHG reporting, water and waste water management...

There are still at least 4 million households in the United States that have children living in them who are being exposed to high levels of lead according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency also reports that no safe blood lead level in children has ever been identified.
In 1978 the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint, but almost 40 years later, one of the most likely sources of lead in a home is still due to the past use of these paints. The U.S....

Fatalities among workers in the landscaping industry are a growing concern in the Southeast. From 2012 to 2016, 64 people employed in the industry in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi died as a result of workplace injuries. In Florida, industry fatalities have nearly tripled since 2012.
To stem the tide, the U.S. Department of Labor`s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, industry associations and employers are banding together to sponsor a one-hour Safety Stand-Down in April to focus and...

Perma Pure LLC, a global leader of gas conditioning solutions for medical, scientific, and environmental monitoring applications, today announced that the Company will be exhibiting at Pittcon 2017, March 5-9, in Chicago, IL. Located at Booth 4735, Perma Pure’s exhibit will feature the Company’s high-performance dryers and moisture exchangers for laboratory and scientific research applications.
As the world’s leading annual conference and exposition for laboratory science, Pittcon attracts...

Customer comments

No comments were found for Adipic Acid Dusts Can Lead to Deadly Combustible Dust Explosions. Be the first to comment!